Patents by Inventor Michael P. McMullen

Michael P. McMullen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10299068
    Abstract: A wireless communication network locates User Equipment (UE) that is served by a wireless repeater chain. The wireless repeater chain wirelessly exchanges user data with the UE and wirelessly exchanges the user data with a wireless base station. The wireless base station determines an amount of communication time delay between the UE and the wireless base station over the wireless repeater chain. The wireless base station identifies the wireless repeater in the wireless repeater chain that is wirelessly attached to the UE based on the communication time delay. The wireless base station identifies the geographic location of the UE based on the geographic location of the identified wireless repeater. The wireless base station transfers the geographic location of the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Roger Danforth Bartlett, Mark Douglas Peden, Raymond Emilio Reeves
  • Patent number: 10021521
    Abstract: A Long-Term Evolution (LTE) communication system to facilitate updating network topology information when a mobile wireless repeater changes its attachment comprises a network topology server, a former macro LTE base station to which the mobile wireless repeater was previously attached, and a new macro LTE base station to which the mobile wireless repeater is presently attached. The network topology is server configured to receive updated attachment information transmitted from the mobile wireless repeater and transfer an attachment scan instruction for delivery to the former macro LTE base station and the new macro LTE base station. The former and new macro LTE base stations are configured to determine network attachment information for one or more network wireless repeaters and transfer the network attachment information for delivery to the network topology server. The network topology server is further configured to receive the network attachment information and update a network topology map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond Emilio Reeves, Michael P. McMullen, Roger Danforth Bartlett, Mark Douglas Peden
  • Publication number: 20180176720
    Abstract: A wireless communication network locates User Equipment (UE) that is served by a wireless repeater chain. The wireless repeater chain wirelessly exchanges user data with the UE and wirelessly exchanges the user data with a wireless base station. The wireless base station determines an amount of communication time delay between the UE and the wireless base station over the wireless repeater chain. The wireless base station identifies the wireless repeater in the wireless repeater chain that is wirelessly attached to the UE based on the communication time delay. The wireless base station identifies the geographic location of the UE based on the geographic location of the identified wireless repeater. The wireless base station transfers the geographic location of the UE.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Roger Danforth Bartlett, Mark Douglas Peden, Raymond Emilio Reeves
  • Patent number: 9942702
    Abstract: A base station exchanges session communications with a UE during a communication session, receives a location request for a device location of the UE, determines an amount of delay time associated with the session communications of the UE, and submits a query to a database system for a location of a wireless repeater to which the UE is connected, wherein the query includes an identifier of the base station and the amount of delay time associated with the session communications. The database system processes the identifier of the base station and the amount of delay time associated with the session communications to identify and return the location of the wireless repeater to the base station. The base station receives the location of the wireless repeater from the database system and transfers the location of the wireless repeater in response to the location request for the device location of the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Roger Danforth Bartlett, Mark Douglas Peden, Raymond Emilio Reeves
  • Patent number: 9924449
    Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) stores a location of a portable WAP and is configured to report the stored location of the portable WAP to a location-based service provider (LBSP) when the WCD is within coverage of the portable WAP and requests a location-based service from the LBSP. While the WCD is within coverage of the portable WAP, the WCD (i) uses a wireless-communication interface to detect that the WCD is also within one or more particular cellular coverage areas and (ii) stores a correlation between the portable WAP and the one or more particular cellular coverage areas. Thereafter, while the WCD is again within coverage of the portable WAP, the WCD determines that the WCD is not within coverage of the one or more particular cellular coverage areas. In response, the WCD reconfigures itself to not report the stored location of the portable WAP to the LBSP when the WCD requests the location-based service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Roger D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 9756466
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining the identity of a user associated with a wireless device located near a geographic location at a specific time. In response to the occurrence of an event at a geographic location, a request can be issued by a wireless provider to users of wireless devices to provide the geographic locations of their respective devices and their identities to one or more entities. Upon receiving an affirmative response to the request, the wireless provider communicates information to the entities allowing the entities to contact the users to solicit information regarding the occurrence of the event. A wireless provider may send a request for authorization to users of wireless devices to provide geographic locations when the wireless devices enter a predefined geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Rodney D. Nelson, John R. Schuler
  • Patent number: 9712664
    Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein are employed in a cross-platform notification system configured to send a series of notifications to devices and/or subscription services associated with an account where a payment is due. These notifications may be sent to an increasing number of devices and/or subscription services as time passes from when payment was due, and the iterations of notifications may take up progressively more of a graphical user interface and/or be displayed for an increasing period of time until a final notification is sent, after which point access to telecommunications services and subscription services, except for emergency functions, accessed through the telecommunications service provider are no longer available to users associated with the overdue account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Mark D. Peden, Raymond Reeves
  • Patent number: 9706353
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining the identity of a user associated with a wireless device located near a geographic location at a specific time. In response to the occurrence of an event at a geographic location, a request can be issued by a wireless provider to users of wireless devices to provide the geographic locations of their respective devices and their identities to one or more entities. Upon receiving an affirmative response to the request, the wireless provider communicates information to the entities allowing the entities to contact the users to solicit information regarding the occurrence of the event. A wireless provider may send a request for authorization to users of wireless devices to provide geographic locations when the wireless device enters a predefined geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Rodney D. Nelson, John R. Schuler
  • Patent number: 9681298
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining whether to allow a position-determining system to provide location information that describes a location of a mobile device. A series of steps are carried out in which information is exchanged between networked components. In an embodiment, a request for location information (e.g., map coordinates) is received together with contextual information (e.g., identification of a mobile device and identification of a requesting party). A set of rules, such as approved contextual information, is referenced to determine if the contextual information is permissible. Upon determining that the contextual information is permissible, the position-determining system is allowed to provide location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Ryan Alan Wick, Raymond Emilio Reeves, John Marvin Jones, Michael P. Mcmullen
  • Patent number: 9544727
    Abstract: When a wireless communication device (WCD) is served by a first base station and not by a distant second base station, the WCD may initially be receiving strong pilot strength from the first base station and weak pilot strength from the second base station. Due to the WCD moving into a position where the first base station coverage is obstructed, however, the WCD may detect a quick drop in first base station pilot strength without a corresponding proportional increase in the second base station pilot strength, to the point that the second base station pilot signal is sufficiently stronger than first base station pilot signal that the WCD hands over to the second base station. In response to detecting that scenario, the WCD may report that the location of coverage of the second base station is an uncertain representation of the WCD's location, to help ensure reliable location-based service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Mark Peden
  • Patent number: 9420425
    Abstract: A portable wireless access point (WAP) stores its location and is configured to report the stored location to a location-based service provider (LBSP) when a wireless communication device (WCD) is within coverage of the portable WAP and requests a location-based service from the LBSP. While the WCD is within coverage of the portable WAP, the portable WAP receives from the WCD a first list of one or more cellular base stations currently accessible by the WCD. Thereafter, while the WCD is again within coverage of the portable WAP, the portable WAP receives from the WCD a second list of one or more cellular base stations currently accessible by the WCD. The portable WAP compares the first list to the second list, and responsive to determining that the second list is threshold different from the first list, the portable WAP reconfigures itself such that, when the WCD requests the location-based service, the portable WAP does not report the stored location to the WCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Roger D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 9392402
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining the geographic location associated with events depicted in media. The geographic locations can be provided by creators of the media, or by users who view the media. The geographic locations can then be stored in a database on a server. A determination can be made as to whether the geographic locations are within a predefined distance of the geographic location of a wireless device. A set of events located within the predefined distance can be presented to a user of the wireless device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Rodney D. Nelson, John R. Schuler
  • Patent number: 9369841
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for determining the identity of a user associated with a wireless device located near a geographic location at a specific time. In response to the occurrence of an event at a geographic location, a request can be issued by a wireless provider to users of wireless devices to provide the geographic locations of their respective devices and their identities to one or more entities. Upon receiving an affirmative response to the request, the wireless provider communicates information to the entities allowing the entities to contact the users to solicit information regarding the occurrence of the event. A wireless provider may send a request for authorization to users of wireless devices to provide geographic locations when the wireless device enters a predefined geographic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Rodney D. Nelson, John R. Schuler
  • Patent number: 9191916
    Abstract: A mobile location system (MLS) may receive a request to provide a representative location of a user equipment device (UE). In response to receiving the request, the MLS may apply a location determination process so as to determine a location of the UE. The MLS may then determine that the determined location of the UE coincides with an existing location of another entity, such as a private address. In response to determining that the determined location of the UE coincides with the existing location of the other entity, the MLS may adjust the determined location to not coincide with the existing location of the other entity. The adjusted determined location may be a road segment, geodetic marker, or property boundary. The MLS may then provide a response to the request, in which the response identifies the adjusted determined location of the UE as the representative location of the UE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Bryce A. Jones, Sal Cerda, Stephen D. Williams, Mark J. Bonn, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 9123062
    Abstract: A method comprises detecting presence information of one or more IDs stored on a mobile communication device, wherein the IDs are stored in a non-transitory memory on the mobile communication device, wherein a first ID of the one or more IDs is active on the mobile communication device; and wherein the IDs comprise an auto-installation routine and at least one of an application, a media file, and a widget. The method also comprises providing a content from a sponsor of the first ID to the mobile communication device, wherein the content is activated in association with a call on the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Jason R. Delker, Michael P. McMullen, M. Jeffrey Stone, Peter S. Syromiatnikov
  • Patent number: 9125107
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for determining the location of a mobile station with greater accuracy than serving base station location and yet preferably without the consumption of network resources typical of satellite-based location determination. The method is applicable in a scenario where a mobile station is ping-ponging (or has just been ping-ponging) between two non-coterminous wireless coverage areas. According the method, in that scenario, the location of the mobile station will be approximated conveniently as the location of overlap between the two wireless coverage areas, since it is most likely that the mobile station resides in that overlap area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Spectrum L.P.
    Inventors: Michael P. McMullen, Kevin L. Butler
  • Patent number: 9113293
    Abstract: Methods and systems for displaying location uncertainty of locations of mobile devices are provided. A location of a mobile device may be determined using a location system. The mobile device can be associated with a location service that locates the mobile device. The location system identifies the location of the mobile device that is an approximation of the location of the mobile device. An uncertainty region for the location of the mobile device is identified. The uncertainty region determines an extent of geographic data that is displayed on a location diagram based on a correlation between the uncertainty region and the extent of geographic data. The extent of geographic data that corresponds to the uncertainty region is determined. The location associated with the uncertainty region is communicated such that the location is displayed on the location diagram with the extent of geographic data using the obscuring feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Terry G. Rayburn, Rodney D. Nelson, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 9106477
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-readable media for initiating anonymous communication between a first user and a second user. In particular, an anonymous communication request is transmitted from a first user to a session management node. The anonymous communication request may include search criteria provided by the first user. Based on the search criteria, the session management node many generate a query to a profile server. The profile server may identify a second user based on the search criteria provided by the first user. Additionally, the profile server may provide an identifier of the second user to the session management node. Further, the session management node may initiate anonymous communication between the first user and the second user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Simon Youngs, Gary D. Koller, Piyush Jethwa, Michael P. McMullen
  • Patent number: 9043446
    Abstract: A system is provided comprising processor, memory, and monitoring application that receives a first communication from a first portable electronic device containing a description of an ID of the first portable device, the ID comprising at least one of applications, media files, and widgets. The system creates a file mirroring the ID and receives a second communication containing a first plurality of entries to the ID associated with interactions with at least a first remote device. The system stores the first plurality of entries in the file and receives a third communication containing a first plurality of communications received by the first portable device, the first plurality of communications associated with the interactions. The system stores the first plurality of communications and sends a fourth communication to a second remote device providing the first plurality of entries and the first plurality of communications associated with the interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: John Mark Davis, Daniel L. Dryden, Michael P. McMullen, Sei Y. Ng, Susan J. Pennington
  • Patent number: 9026157
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying frequency band interference based on a mobile device activity record. The mobile device activity record may include a plurality of frequencies used by the mobile device and for each frequency in the plurality of frequencies a geographic location where the frequency was used. The mobile device activity record is received and compared to a spectrum license record that lists an assigned frequency band for an assigned geographic location. The assigned frequency band and assigned geographic location may be licensed to a frequency carrier. It is determined that that a frequency band interference has occurred based on identifying a frequency in the mobile device activity record when, according to the spectrum license record, the frequency is not licensed to a frequency carrier for the mobile device, in the geographic location where the frequency was used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Alan Joseph Falk, Michael P. McMullen, Darrin Christopher Mott, Julie Ann Hart